By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – There were several developments Wednesday in the race for state attorney general in New York. In Buffalo, several local Democrats gathered to endorse the presumed front-runner, former US Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo.
There is no shortage of candidates who are running for attorney general. The incumbent, Eliot Spitzer, has his sites on becoming the next governor. And those who want to succeed him as AG are promising to continue his legacy.
Spitzer changed the profile of state attorney general. He aggressively prosecuted cases involving Wall Street and music industry corruption. Andrew Cuomo says Spitzer assumed a watchdog role that had been the purview of the federal government and achieved results. Cuomo says he's the best candidate to continue that.
"Who has federal experience? Who has a record of getting results? If you look at my resume and my performance, I'm the answer to those questions," Cuomo said.
Cuomo served as housing secretary in the Clinton administration and made an unsuccessful run for governor in 2002. He came to Buffalo Wednesday where he was endorsed by several prominent Democrats, including Mayor-elect Byron Brown, State Assemblyman Mark Schroeder and County Legislator Demone Smith. Brown said he usually doesn't endorse candidates so early in a primary campaign. But this time, he's making an exception.
"When you look at the depth of experience that Andrew Cuomo has, I think we need someone with that background," Brown said.
In supporting Cuomo, Brown is bypassing a candidate from this area. Former US Attorney for the Buffalo region, Denise O'Donnell, announced her candidacy for attorney general last spring. An O'Donnell spokesman described Wednesday's Cuomo event in Buffalo as "some career politicians endorsing another career politician." The O'Donnell spokesman says he's confident voters will choose "a professional prosecutor" for state attorney general.
Also Wednesday, New York City lawyer Charlie King announced endorsements from several Buffalo-area politicians in his bid for attorney general, including Erie County Legislature Chairman George Holt.